| Volunteer Opportunity of the Month
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Empower Women, Work Internationally & Provide a Much Needed Service!
More Information!
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Luz ~ A Honduran Girl's
Journey for Education
Check out our mini documentary portraying an incredible journey by an amazing young woman!
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Saludos From AAV!
Happy New Year from all of us at AAV! We hope everyone had a safe & wonderful Holiday Season! Here we are again at the beginning of a new year. There is so much in store for AAV in 2011 we can hardly wait for it all to begin! Here's what you'll find in our January Issue... "Children Raising Children" - In Honduras, the average age for a woman to give birth for the first time is estimated to be between 15-17. It's common to see girls as young as 12 giving birth for the first time. Approximately 40% of the nation's entire population is 14 or younger. This is a country of youth and a place where children are raising children; a theme often reflected in much of Latin America. "Amazing Things Do Happen!" - Jungle School Graduate, Luz Mila Castro Velasquez, 16, has been granted a student visa to continue her studies in Canada. She arrived in her new home on December 3rd. Kyla McClure portrays 2 years of work and Luz's eventual arrival in this wonderfully touching article. "From the Project" Follow-up - AAV volunteer Karen Fowler, arrived back in Canada just a few weeks ago, after nearly 3 months volunteering in Argentina. Read her final thoughts on her experience at "La Casita", a day centre that helps nearly 50 children living in the surrounding slum area of Buenos Aires. If you like what we're doing, please help us spread the word by taking a moment to send this email to friends & family via the "forward" button in the left column. We'd also love for you to "share us" on your favourite social media sites using the links provided. Check out the sections below for more exciting details about the stories listed above! |
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Children Raising Children: A Honduran Reality
 La Ceiba, Honduras - When you think about childhood do you think about playing with toys, eating candy and throwing your vegetables away, going to school, visiting relatives on summer vacation and having to listen to what your parents told you to do? Childhood in much of North America means that you are taken care of by your parents, forced to go to school, play outside, visit relatives, go to the doctor and dentist, and yes, eat your vegetables!
 For many children in the developing world, this is not what childhood is like at all. Childhood means looking after younger siblings, learning to cook what little food is available, suffering through minor maladies because there are no affordable doctors or dentists nearby. School is not an obligation for many, but a privilege, and if lucky enough to attend, many students only receive the very basics of education. Parents? Often it's just mom, still a child herself, as the average age to give birth in Honduras is approximately 15, and in many areas as young as 12. Dad, likely in his late 30s has run off. Read the Article...
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Amazing Things Do Happen!
Toronto, Canada - The chance for a bright and determined young Honduran girl to continue her education in Canada has finally been realized.
 Luz Mila grew up in a place that has no name. She grew up in a place of beauty, on the top of a mountain that looks out over the tropical rainforest of Honduras, out to the ocean and beyond. It's a place that anyone who visits is overwhelmed by the remoteness and beauty of, not that there are many visitors. She grew up in a place where the closest neighbour is over an hour walk away, and the closest town, over three. There are no cars, no bikes, no transportation except for your own two legs. She used hers often, every day, walking for hours on end to attend the school that she knew was her ticket out of the poverty she was born into, but always returning home at the end of the day to her dirt floor, mud and stick walled house. Her home.
Read the Article...
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From the Project - Karen Fowler, Argentina
Peterborough, Canada - Former AAV volunteer, Karen Fowler, is back from 3 months of volunteering at La Casita Children's Home in Argentina. She has been kind enough to share her final thoughts about her experience.  "The last week of volunteering at La Casita was bittersweet. I was so excited about going home to see my family and friends, but I didn't know how I would be able to say good-bye to all the kids and staff I had come to love in Argentina. The kids and I cried on several occasions that week, but minutes later we would be laughing about all the fun things we had done together.
My last day was spent crying with the children and staff. I received letters and cards from all the children thanking me for coming and how much they loved me and would miss me. Although saying good-bye was one of the hardest things I had ever done, I wouldn't have traded it for anything." Read the Article...
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Signing off for now! Stay tuned 2011 is going to be amazing!
If you have any questions in regard to volunteer opportunities or how you may be able to get involved, please email us or call toll free 1-800-779-2528. We're here to help you!  Thank you for your continued support!
Saludos, 
Daniel Collins
Executive Director
p. 1.800.779.2528
e. daniel@allaccessvolunteers.com
w. www.allaccessvolunteers.com
"Be the change you wish to see in the world" - Mahatma Gandhi
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